problems after 5+ years

I am looking into wls, gastric bypass. Does anyone know what the chances of having problems after a few years. I have read that some people have trouble with vitamin deficiency. I am healthy except that I am 100 pounds over weight. I am 48 and I know that if I don't do something my health will decline. I would hate do do something that will make my health worse than it is now. Thank you for any advise you may have.
Lindy

As long as you keep up with your vitamins and supplements, and get your bloodwork done periodically so you can catch any deficiencies quickly, you shouldn't have any problems.

Congratulations on taking your first steps to Good Health!

Let WLS be your absolute last resort. I've had a bowel obstructon that almost killed me, have to get frequent iron infusions at my local cancer center, struggle with regulating my labs with malabsorption if we don'****ch our levels I constantly I believe we can do great harm to our bodies. Getting in supp. and protein are daily struggles. Accidently eat soemething with too much sugar and you'll feel like your heart will explode because of dumping.  I am convinced this surgery may shorten my life span, but I'm much happier thin but wish I could have done it another way.

I am almost 3 years out from RNY.

Torrie

I'm sorry that Torrie A has had such a rough time since her surgery; it is true that complications can occur, but they are relatively rare.

Do the investigations of the different styles of WLS if that's what you want to do;  you know as well as I do that "Diets Don't Work".

I've heard very happy customers for all the different methods, and some heartbreaking stories when things go wrong.  But things will go wrong with perfectly healthy people, too.

Be like Davy Crockett:  Be sure you're right, then go ahead.

Best wishes,

I don't know the statistics for vitamin deficiencies but yes they can occur, most I believe occur from people not taking there supplements regularly or they are not taking ones that can be absorbed properly or they are not eating properly. You have to go into this surgery being aware of the complications and side effects that can occur. You also have to get into the mind set that the changes  you will make are for life and just because you may feel fine you don't have to take your vitamins. You will also need regular follow ups for life too with regular blood work.

For myself, with the medical issues I already had and the ones that were waiting to happen. I needed to have help to finally lose my excess weight. WLS is a tool that can assist a person to lose weight. There are risks, as with any surgery. There are risks also to being in an obese body.

I was 53 yo  in April 2006 when I  had GBS and have not regretted it for one minute. I do take my vitamins regularly and follow the program that was given me for my new way of eating , ect. I have lost 119lbs and have not had any serious side effects or complications. I have reduced my daily medications from 7 prescriptions to 3 and am more mobile, healthy and happy than I have been in many, many years.

Yes, there are risks, but the benefits and results for me were well worth taking the risk. It is something not to be taken lightly and one needs to really be sure they are ready to take on this new life style. You do need to work at keeping the weight off but with our tool it is so much easier.

Wishing you all the best with whatever you decide to do.

Sher

 

From another response, I realize I didn't clarify that I am NOT anemic because I didn't take my iron or keep a watch on my iron level. My body DOES NOT ABSORB any iron that we tried - OTC, RX, liquid, with vitamin C, etc. This is not because I'm not aware of what is going on - this is a true side affect of the surgery  and malabsorption or non-absorbtion of the iron. The same goes for vitamins...post op I might take exactly what is recommended by that does not mean my body will absorb it in that form...such as vitamin D3 which I was taking but not in dry form. 

I don't want to make it sound like my ride has been all negative. Like I said, I love being thin. But as you know this is not a magic pill that will cure obesity without sacrifices. 

Taking care of ones self after this surgery is a daily job... 

I don't absorb iron either and have been anemic twice  prior to WLS during two pregnacies.  Plus it runs in my family (which I did not know)  But I did not comply with taking my iron and my low vits were the fat soluable ones mostly so I was not taking the right ones either!

But...I found taking carbonyl iron  (Tender Iron  from Vitalady.com) in 2 months I went from anemic to iron deficient.....(It's non toxic, no side effects and chewable (no metal or bloody taste)  And in 6 months I am completely out anemia and iron deficiency.  I am still working on raisng my ferritin a bit higher though...

I was amazed at the results!  Just wanted to share that with you...I know I probably sound like a commercial , but I just cannot begin to tell people how much better i felt and what great results i had on this iron...I really thought I was gonna have to have blood transfusions for a while! 

I agree basically with what everyone has said in the previous posts. 

The best advice I can give is to look at all the different types of surgeries before you decide what is right for you.  Surgery is a life time commitment.  It's not like Biggest Loser (which I love to watch) or any other "diet" where you lose weight and then you're done.  You can not go back once your stomack is re-arranged.

Best wishes for a successful journey!

Michele

I have had troubles since the Gastric Bypass.  I too only had 100 pounds to lose.  If I cuold do it again I would have chosen the Lap Band, as that can be reversed.  Like the others say,  make sure you get your labs drawn at least every three months.  Good luck!

Well, kind of.....The doc's won't take out a functioning lap-band, just cause you want it taken out. IF they slip, erode, or cause other problems, then yes, you can get a revision to another surgery. But they can also just "deflate" them and leave them in. Please think about which WLS surgery is for you, long term. Me personally? I did NOT want a foreign object in my tummy or a port buried just underneath my skin, on my side. Ugh......Just my two cents!